Reagan0712

Apparently I did not word my question properly before.

Has anyone currently on the Koningsdam with Premium internet tried using Netflix or AppleTV?

I am not interested in watching YouTube videos.

Thanks

Has anyone with Premium internet tried using Netflix or AppleTV? I’ve heard you need the upgraded plan for those to work.

Asking because with HIA I have Premium next month on a trans-Atlantic.

Thanks

19 hours ago, Crew News said:

This would be a good question to post on a current live thread.  If no answer, I will report next month with my Premium Plan.

Thanks. I’ll check a live thread. I’m sailing April 7th.

9 hours ago, POA1 said:

Can you download content ahead of time? I downloaded things to watch from Amazon Prime before our last cruise so I wouldn't have to worry about streaming. We had premium in December. Ultimately, we didn't watch any of it because we had plenty to do.

I can download from Prime and Netflix, and have before, but not sure about Apple TV. I like to relax in bed before I go to sleep and the stuff HAL offers is awful. I’m also hoping that the VPN that was recommended to me works and I can use the TCM app which is my first preference.

Has anyone tried streaming Netflix or Apple TV from the Premium plan?

I have Premium included with HIA next month on my trans-Atlantic.

12 hours ago, Mary229 said:

On the bed ( swag) this evening along with chocolate which seems to be back as a daily treat. 

Are you on what is considered a Legendary Voyage?

On 2/6/2024 at 1:24 PM, WriterOnDeck said:

I've frequently streamed Netflix with the premium package. I engage my VPN after signing onto the ship's wifi in order for Netflix to stream to my location. But no real issues. Just FYI.

Two questions -

I wrote it down but now can’t find it. What VPN did you say you use?

Have you been experiencing any connectivity issues within the past month?  I’ve been reading that some people are no longer able to connect VPNs on various HAL ships.

Thanks

I’m beginning to think they took a laptop to the zoo in Seattle, put it in front of an orangutan and said build us a website.

The omelet station in the Lido will make them however you like.

Things are rocking in Iceland right now.  I was in Grindavik on a HAL tour this past June. It’s a lovely little town. My second time there. It’s also very close to the Bridge between the Continents.  On the same tour we experienced a minor quake at the Seltun Geothermal Area.

5 hours ago, alwayscruisetime said:

We are doing a cruise later this year in which we will be disembarking at one port (in one country) and re-boarding at a different port (in a different country).  I called the Holland America line to request a "deviation", and a few days later got an email giving permission.  The letter sent by email states what many here have shared - any additional costs are yours.  The cruise itinerary could change, in which case you assume any additional costs.  Deviations from the published itinerary may result in additional Covid-19 testing requirements - depending on the country of travel, there may be isolation requirements that keep you from re-boarding as scheduled or flying home until the isolation period ends.  Again, you're responsible for any additional costs "associated with isolation, including hotels, transportation, flights, food etc."

 

Lastly, they state that they are "unable" (we didn't ask) to adjust the cruise fare given that you're onboard for fewer days.  Also that they won't have porters available so if you're taking luggage, you have to handle that on your own.

 

All that being said, we feel as you do.  There are "touring hours" to be had while the ship is docked overnight or at sea, heading from one port to the next, and we had a lot we wanted to see that wouldn't be possible without an "alternate disembark and embark" (another term used in HAL's letter).  We've arranged tours with local guides/companies, booked hotels, and booked flights to make the most of our time and money.  We'll get to sights that weren't possible through the ship's tours, and we'll save ourselves money on some that were.  For the money spent to get halfway around the world (in our case) it's much cheaper to see those places while we're in the area, rather than arranging a 2nd trip back to see them at a later date.

 

I hope it works out for you.  We visited Machu Pichu with a land-based tour several years ago and encourage everyone we know to go earlier rather than later.  We had no problems, but the older members of our group struggled.  Enjoy!

 

 

I received that same email when I embarked in Reykjavik on a cruise that started in Rotterdam. As far as porters, no problem, the guy on the dock where I had to show my passport made one of the guys with him take my suitcase. They took the suitcase to where ever it got scanned and I saw it in my cabin a little while later.

On 11/3/2023 at 3:12 PM, Roz said:

Anyone born from the late 1940s on up was raised on rock 'n' roll.  🤪

Born in the mid-50s and love the Rolling Rock lounge *but* if they had a good swing band on the Main Stage every night, that is where I’d be.  I’ll always take a good rendition of Glenn Miller’s Moonlight Serenade or String of Pearls over any ZZTop.

15 hours ago, OlsSalt said:

Think about picking the cruise during the dates when it is most likely to transit the full Prince Christian Sound in Greenland. When it will hopefully be free enough of ice to be passable .One of the most stunning memories on the entire Voyage of the Vikings. Of course, it will be impossible to predict this for certain but maybe there are more likely times of the year than others. 

 

We did the full Voyage of the Vikings in early August (I believe) Boston to Boston, We first entered the PW Sound from the west in the evening, and parked overnight  as far in as we could go. Then in the morning we cameback  out so slowly again to the western entrance. Then onwards through another route for our  east bound journey on to Iceland.  Captain had a search helicopter available to check it out, before making this partial transit decision.

 

Then on our return route back to Greenland from Iceland (Rotterdam was the  turnaround port) we were able to transit the full PW Sound - so just a few weeks made a difference in the ice content of the sound. Obviously there is no way to predict this - just beware of possible weather limitations on viewing this spectacular Greenland channel of water - the Prince Christian  Sound.

This past June on the Zuiderdam we had to go into Prince Christian Sound from the west end because the other end was blocked by ice.  Got as far as the big glacier then turned around to go back out. Thank goodness we didn’t overnight because the next day we heard that both ends were blocked by ice and we were the last ship in and out.

On 10/28/2023 at 9:12 PM, happytotravel said:

Hi,

Since the Volendam does not have the Dutch cafe as the other ships do which dining venue has the most Dutch specialty items?

Thanks, happytotravel

Check the MDR at lunch. When I was on the Eurodam last March the MDR had those big pancakes with bacon that are made in the Dutch Cafe.  If I recall, there were a couple other items on the menu also.

The 2025 Voyage of the Vikings stops in both countries. Three stops in Greenland and four stops in Iceland.

1 hour ago, Iamthesea said:

Does anyone have experience with getting credit from HAL because your HIA excursion credit goes unused?  We would like to use it (as would many of my Roll Call friends), however, all tours in all but one port of call are booked solid.  Very frustrating for us all!  This is for a cruise not sailing until next May.

Get on the waitlist for whatever tour you want. I was waitlisted for two tours for my cruise next April. I got an email last week that one was available and then yesterday that the other was available. The first one used up what was left of my excursion credit.

16 minutes ago, retird said:

I personally do not use a TA because I have not been able to find a good one to keep.   For those that have found a good one, they have been worth their weight in gold.   I started out trying to use TAs, but after a few times asking for a specific stateroom and being told it was not in (their) inventory, i gave up and started booking direct

Agree. Used a TA once. He must have gone to PCC school because like the PCC assigned to me, the TA was never available when calling, would never respond to voice mails and took days to respond to emails. That's why I went back to booking direct with HAL. But that, lately, has gone drastically downhill also.

@BermudaBound2014 I think, for me, they're including cruises I booked and canceled. Plus, yesterday I had two cabins on hold until I decided which I wanted which gave me two more booking numbers. 

2 hours ago, sailawayward said:

Can't imagine the grief some of you feel having to speak to someone in an unfamiliar accent about the 11 cruises you have booked.

There is a difference between listening to someone with an unfamiliar accent and listening to someone on the telephone who is struggling to speak a foreign language, in this case English. 

I grew up with a grandfather who came from Italy so I am more than familiar to listening to someone with an accent.  I also deal regularly with kids in the English as a Second Language (ESL) program. Kids who have many different accents and mumble half the time. 

I’ve never gotten the $50 per day rate for me either.

What I do is try to figure out the cost of the portions of the HIA package that I’ll use (Crew Appreciation, Premium internet, and excursions. Not a drinker or coffee drinker so the Beverage package goes to waste with me, same with speciality restaurants) and subtract it from the difference between the base price and the HIA price.

Example: Today I booked a transatlantic. The difference between the HIA price and the base price was $1047.  I figured the Crew Appr. would be $18 a day x 14 days/$252. Premium Internet $350. Excursion allowance $200. Total-$802.

The difference would be $245. This is what I figure I’m paying to get the HIA package. I can live with that number.  The difference is sometimes much higher, such as with my Alaska cruise next year. For that one I went with the base price.

5 hours ago, ChinaShrek said:

Personally, I also wish most things were automated.

You are going to love the new phone system at HAL.

Tonight’s call started…

”We show 11 bookings for this phone number, please tell us which booking you are calling about.”

Fortunately I was actually calling about a booking. I wonder what happens if you’re not calling about a booking?  Anyhow, I gave the booking number.

”I’m sorry I did not get that. Please repeat your booking number.”

At that point I just started beating on the 0 button on my phone and eventually heard, “We’ll connect you to a representative.” which, unfortunately, was in the call center. 

12 hours ago, 510picker said:

Send me an email at mattandnay@yahoo.com and I will put you in touch with someone that may be able to help you.

Thanks. Against my better judgement I called and, of course, got a rep in the call center. As soon as she said she had to put me on hold to speak with a supervisor I told her to just put the supervisor on the phone. Turns out I ended up with a Mariner Discount price which is $200 lower than the $99 deposit price, but I then had to give a $600 deposit.

I tried to book a cruise yesterday that specifically stated $99 deposit. But when it was time to pay the $99 deposit, it said my minimum deposit was $600.  I put the cruise on hold and am now dreading the fact that I have to call to find out what is going on. Not looking forward to having to deal if the atrocious call center people.

I ditched my HAL PCC several years ago. Could never get him on the phone. Even when he gave me a specific time to call it went to voicemail. That ended it.

Anyhow, regarding the call center…it is one of the worst.  No matter the question, I get put on hold while the person checks with a supervisor and, without fail, the answer they provide does not remotely answer my question. This is in addition to not being able to understand half of these new reps. I prefer booking directly but this is quite frustrating.  

I sent an email asking if there were any representatives still working who were not in the call center and it appeared to also be forwarded to some sort of off-shore email center as the response did not in the least bit address my concerns, and, they added an old booking number as if I was questioning a previous cruise.

@jules815 If you are going to try the app outside of Canada or the U.S. it won’t work. Maybe if you use a VPN and show the VPN as in the U.S. it might work.  But, when I tried using a VPN with my computer at home to get BBC1 it recognized I was using a VPN and wouldn’t let me watch.